Danon: IDF Has Backing for 'Heavy Hand' Against Rock Rioters

Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon on Wednesday visited the town of Beit El in the Binyamin region.

By David Lev

First Publish: 5/23/2013, 1:15 AM

Beit El

Israel news photo

Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon on Wednesday visited the town of Beit El in the Binyamin region. With the visit, Danon sought to show solidarity with residents of the town, who suffer from incessant rock attacks by Arabs from villages in the area.

Beit El Local Authority head Moshe Rosenbaum welcomed Danon. Rosenbaum said that the pace and intensity of attacks have picked up in recent weeks, reaching unprecedented levels. “The IDF has a presence here and there are fences and guards, but the Arabs are not afraid to come here and throw stones,” Rosenbaum said. “We expect the army to take a strong hand against these rioters in order to end these attacks. We will not allow a return to the 'stone age,'” he added.

Danon said that as far as he was concerned, the army had his full backing to do whatever was necessary to stop the attacks. “I call on the leaders of the army to use the power and authority they have to deal with this. This is their obligation,” he said.

“There has been a change in the attitude to dealing with rock throwing, and the soldiers and commanders in the field are aware of this,” Danon added. “The commanders must know that they have the full support” of the government and people to end the rock throwing.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva, Danon said that for him, there was no difference between Tel Aviv and Judea or Samaria. “They must respond in Beit El as they would in Tel Aviv. The army has our full backing to do this,” he added.